Dispenser for powdered materials



Nov. 14, 1961 sgsslous 3,008,609

DISPENSER FOR POWDERED MATERIALS Filed July 13, 1959 iig; 6 e4 Mneafisss/a/vs,

IN VEN TOR.

' proved mounting for a dispenser of the 3,063,6ti9 'DlSPENdER FOR POWDERED .Marc H. Sessions, Los Angeles, C alif.,

States Borax & Chemical Corporation, (lalifi, a corporation of Nevada Filed July 13, 1959, Ser. N0. 826,810

, 8 Claims. (Cl. 222-130) M T R A .assignorto United L An el This invention has to do with dispensersfor delivering a metered, quantity of powderedpsoap-and the; like in response to manual actuation. The invention concerns espcciallythose dispensers in which the metering valve comprises a valve clementvertically reciprocable in a .valve opening at the bottom of the container for the powdered material.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of improved means for varying the amount of powdered material that is delivered oneach cycle of operation-of such dispensers. It is well recognized in thegart that it is desirable to providesuch variation of thedispenser action, since the requirements of diilerenpusers maybe quite distinct. However, previously available means for accomplishing such variationare otl -fully satisfactory.

- ;They tend,.-forexample, tobe inconvenient to; operate, subject to clogging with the powdered material, and difficult to set with assurance for. the desired-result: ,The present invention-provides a very simple and-straightforward mechanism that is readily adjustable, to give a selectedv delivery action with complete definiteness and i assurance.

= A further object of the invention is to provide an imdescribed type in a cabinet adapted to be set inthe .wall. One of the (iii- 1 ficultieswith such installation of .ahsoap dispenser, for

example, has-been that the soap that isspilled tendsto collect on the floor of the cabinet. A removable tray may be provided, to facilitate catching and removing such 7 l spilled soap, but the presence of spilled soap on the bottom of such atrayltends to beunsightly and objection- .able.

The present invention provides a special tray cover of novel construction, which hides suchspilled soap from the .view of the operator without obstructinglthe.freefalling of spilled soap to the bottom of the tray.

1 Certain. aspects of, the presentinventlon .are related to the structure describedand claimed inmy copendingpatent application, Serial No. 598,803, filed July 19 1956, 7 ,now Patent 2,906,578.

A fullunderstanding of, thelinvention, and of its furjibe, particulars of )that FIG. 1 is a perspective. representingacabipetted soap dispenser installed in ,a wall; ,FIG. 2 is a vertical section representing an illustrative cabinetted coap dispenser in accordance with the inven- 4, tion;

1 FIG. 3 is a horizontal section on lined- 3 of F IG. 2;

. FIG. ,4 is a perspective detail at enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 isra perspective detail corresponding. to FIG. 4,

, showing a modification; and

,FIG. 6 is 4 perspective. detail corresponding to FIG. 4, ns a turt a tr sl fi at n-w .An illustrative ,soap dispenser is indicated generally at 10, comprising a container 12 with valve mechanism 14. Valve mechanism 14 comprises a valve opening 16 in the bottom of container 12; a' valve chamber housing 15, at-

'tached to the bottom of the-container and forming a nite; states PareneQ Fiatented Nov. 14, 1961 "ice - valve chamber- 18 having delivery, opening 19 in its lower surface in alignment with valve, opening16 on axis 17;

,. valve assemblyincludes a spindle 22, the upper end of 1, ,140. Spindle-22;carries a plurality of valve elements 30,

and. a ,verticallyreciprocable valve assembly 20. The

which is guided for vertical movement by guide means each of which has an axiallaperture which fits slidably over the spindle shank. .Three such elements areshown illustratively, but a different nur'nber'may beprovided if preferredA collar-like rfiange,.26 is formed, near the lowerendi-of spindle 22, providingan upwardly facing should21whichsupports the valve elements and defines their-axial position on the spindle. A releasable retaining device is provided to hold the valve elements against the spindle. As illustrated, that retainer comprises a ,sp-ring clip 25- which isreceived in a circumferential channel in the spindle shankland shoulder 27 and prevent their upward movement along may be removed laterally to release thevalve elements. At least the lowermost of the Valve elementsfitl is limited, .by any suitable mechanism, to ,apredeterrnined angular position on the spindle.

, In the present embodiment a defining formation is pro- ,vided on the lower axial face of each valve element; and a formation of complementary form is provided on the jshoulder 27., Each of thefirst mentioned formations j typically comp rises a short pin or lug 31, and the com-' .upper face of each valve element and also on the face of plementaryforrnation .comprisesahole 32 adapted to re- 31. A particular advantage of that type of demechanism is that, in addition to defining the rotational position ofeach valve element, it insures that the .av e

I lements are assembled rightside up on the spindle. At the lower end of spindle 22 a handle 28 is fixedly .,mounted for manuallyreciprocating the entire valve asfrom valve axis 17 by means of the radial support, so

assembly) Handle: Z8 is preferably otlset 'rearwardly that a hand operating the valve will lie directly below delivery opening inposition to receive the released r soap.

G uide mechanism 40 pre-ferab-ly conforms the threefold function of guiding the upper end of spindle 22 in its vertical reciprocation, limiting the travel of that movelnientg and defining the rotary position of the entire valve assembly, 20. QThe'channel member 41 is fixedly mounted transversely. ofcontain'er 12, as by spot-welding, and is I provided with a shaped apertured 42 on the valve axis 17. spihdle iscutb'acl lfover a limited portion of its length t6 produce a non-circular sectionwhich terminates at opposed axiallyj facing 'shoulders. As shown in FIGS.

[2: to 4-, thelspindle is .Icutfaw'ay, on two opposite sides,

.Iforrning thetaces 4.4, parallel to the axis, and the upward- II lvfacingfshoulders, 45.. At the ,npper end of par'axial a e; a V v the radial lug 46.-

downwardly facing shoulder is formed by lingbay t0, ,clear the;lug. Aperture 42 otherwise con- 1 forms to thelgenerallyrectangular section of the spindle ,7 atifaces 44, as shown. best irrFIG. 3.

" 1. FIGS. .5 andfi --fQr l -a w of. the spindle, as by welding. Q paraxialfaee show modifications in the upper portion of,,the'spindle.l InFIG. 5 three paraxial faces 44a are retaining lug 46a is attached to the fiat end In FIG. 6 only a single 44b is present, and the downwardly facing ,surface directly opposes upwardly facing surface The upper end of the spindle is retained in aperture 42, and its reciprocating movement is limited in a downward direction, by a latch mechanism. In the present embodiment, that latch comprises the single latch member 50. Member 50 has a flat portion 52, which overlies thesweb of channel 40; .a downwardly extending flange 54, Iadapted'to flatly engage one of the flanges of that '7 ilf thatflug extends beyond the cylin- 'drical surfac of the spindle, aperture 42 has a correspondchannel and limit transverse movement of the latch in one direction; and a handle portion 56, which normally projects beyond the opposite side flange of channel 40 and preferably includes a depending flange portion 57 adapted to engage that flange and limit transverse movement of the latch in the other direction. Latch member 51} is spring-mounted by means of a resilient extension 55 of its flange 54, the end of which is bent and secured at 58 to the side wall of container 12. Extension 55 is so formed as to yieldingly urge the main body of member 50 toward the right as seen in FIG. 3 into firm engagement of flange 54 with channel 4%. In that normal latch position, an edge 60 of latch 50 extends below spindle lug 46, acting as a fixed abutment for lower face 47 of the lug. Downward movement of valve assembly 20 is thereby normally limited at a definite lower limit.

Manual pressure upon latch handle 56, as indicated by the arrow 59, overcomes the force of spring 55 and deflects member 5t to the valve-releasing position indicated in dot-dash lines in FIG. 3. In that position of the latch, lug 46 is free to move downward through aperture 42, and the entire valve assembly can be removed downward through the bottom of container 12.

The peripheral surface of each valve element 30 is recessed, as indicated at 34, the degree of recessing differing among the respective valve elements. A plurality of distinct recesses is preferably provided, distributed circumferentially of the valve element. However, whether the recesses are distinct or run together to form a single groove, the recessing is confined to a sector that excludes the angular portion of the valve element directly above radial support 29 on which offset handle 28 is mounted.

The axial position of recesses, 34 on each valve element 30, as shown clearly in FIG. 2, is such that in normal position of the valve assembly the recesses of the lowermost valve element lie within valve chamber ls between valve opening 16 and delivery opening 19. Up ward movement of the valve assembly carries those re cesses up through valve opening 16 into the interior of container 12, where they become filled with the powdered material stored therein. On release of the valve assembly, it falls back to the position of FIG. 2, carrying into valve chamber 18 the material contained in the recesses. That material is then deposited at the bottom of chamber 18, as indicated at 37, where it is trapped by flange 26 and retained until the next actuation of the valve. When the valve assembly is again reciprocated upwards, the lower edge of flange 26 rises above delivery opening 19, causing the material stored on the previous cycle to be delivered downward to the hand of the operator.

With the described limitation of recesses 34 to a sector of each valve element that excludes the sector directly above handle 28, little or no powdered material is delivered by the valve onto handle support 29. The tendency for material to collect on that support is thereby eliminated or reduced to negligible proportions, improving the appearance and facilitating proper maintenance of the equipment.

The described structure provides rugged, simple and reliable means for varying the quantity of soap, or other finely divided material, delivered on each stroke of the dispenser. To adjust the delivery, valve assembly 20 is removed from the dispenser by releasing latch 50 as already described. Retainer 25 is then removed, and the valve elements are removed from spindle 22. The selected valve element is then replaced on the spindle, and the remaining valve elements are assembled above it, with formations 31, 32 in register at each mating surface. Retainer 25 is then replaced and the adjusted valve assembly is returned to operating position and secured by latch 50.

A particular advantage of the described structure is that it may provide adjustment for other variables than the delivery per cycle. For example, the several valve 4. elements may differ in diameter, providing different clearance between their periphery and the edge of valve opening 16. An appropriate unit may then be selected conveniently for each of several particle sizes of material to be dispensed.

The drawings further illustrate an improved cabinet for a dispenser of the described type, which cabinet may be installed in a wall with its front flush with the wall surface. Such a cabinet is indicated generally at 7%, with a hinged door 72. Door 72 is hinged at 74 at one side of the open front of the cabinet, and closes only the upper portion thereof. A sill 76 is fixedly mounted on the cabinet, and extends across the extreme lower part of the front of the cabinet. The lower edge 78 of the door and the upper edge 79 of sill 76 are vertically spaced from each other, forming an access opening into the interior of the cabinet. The dispenser i0 is shown mounted on the rear face of cabinet door 72, as by welding, for example, with the operating handle 28 depending below the lower edge of the door, where it is readily accessible through access opening 77.

The door is normally closed, and is provided with a lock 75, which may be released with a key for servicing the dispenser.

A tray 80 is provided to catch any soap that might otherwise be spilled onto the cabinet floor. Tray 80 is of generally rectangular shape, to fit over the floor area of the cabinet behind sill 76. The rear side wall of tray 80 preferably extends upward, as indicated at 82, and its upper edge 84 is arranged to engage the rear of dispenser 10 when the cabinet door ,is closed. The tray is thereby effectively locked in place whenever the cabinet door is locked, but may readily be lifted out of the cabinet when the door is opened for servicing. The tray side walls 85 extend obliquely from the front wall 83 to the top of rear Wall 82.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a grid-like tray cover 99 is provided, which greatly improves the appearance of the installation by hiding from the operator any spilled soap that may be lying in the bottom of the tray. Such a cover is indicated at 90, comprising a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical slats 94 which extend the entire Width of cover between supports 96. The entire cover is pivoted at the back of tray 80, as at 98, and can be lifted to the position indicated at 91 to provide convenient inspection of the tray bottom, and also to facilitate cleaning of the tray after the latter has been removed from the cabinet. In normal position of cover 99, the bottom of tray 80 is hidden from the operator, as indicated at 106); yet the thin slats 94 present no appreciable obstruction to the free deposit of spilled material in the tray.

The forward edge of cover 90 comprises an angle member 97, the depending flange of which abuts the top edge 79 of the sill. The horizontal flange of angle 97 extends rearwardly across the top of the front tray wall 83. That wall preferably extends upwardly above the top edge of sill 76, and directly supports angle member 97, thereby defining the normally horizontal position of tray cover 90. That structural arrangement is rugged and economical, prevents spilled soap from falling between the tray and sill 7 6, and prevents an attractive appearance.

I claim:

1. In a dispenser for powdered soap or the like, a container having a bottom with a valve opening therein, structure forming a valve chamber located below the container bottom and having a discharge opening axially aligned with the valve opening, valve means comprising the combination of a plurality of generally cylindrical, axially apertured valve elements of a size to be reciprocable axially within said valve and delivery openings, spindle means comprising an upwardly extending spindle adapted to slidingly receive the valve elements successively in arbitrary order, an upwardly facing shoulder at sgooa'eoo the lower end of the spindle for engaging the lowermost valve'e'lement, releasable means for locking the uppermost valve'element against upward movement on the spindle; the peripheral surface'of each valve element 'be'ing recessed, the "degree of recessing of the respective i valve elements being different; whereby the volume of -powdered soap or the'like delivered on each valve stroke is "variableby selection'of the order of thevalve ele- "m'ent's' on the spindle.

in a dispenser for powdered soap or the like, a

"container having a" bottom with avalve'opening therein,

roc'able axially within said valve and delivery openings, spindle means comprising an upwardly extending spindle adapted to slidingly receive the valve elements successively in orbitrary order, an upwardly facing shoulder at the lower end of the spindle for engaging the lowermost valve element, releasable means for locking the uppermostvalve"elementwagainst upward movement on the spindle, guide means for guiding the upper end of the spindle for axial reciprocation relative to the container, stop means for limiting that reciprocation at predetermined upper and lower spindle positions, and handle means for manually reciprocating the spindle means, the peripheral surface of each valv element being recessed within a definite limited axial zone, said zone, for the lowermost valve element, being intermediate the valve opening and the delivery opening in said lower spindle position and being at least partly above the valve opening in said upper spindle position, the degree of recessing of the respective valve elements being different, whereby the volume of powdered soap or the like delivered on each valve stroke is variable by selection of the order of the valve elements on the spindle.

3. In a dispenser for powdered soap or the like, a container having a bottom with a valve opening therein, structure forming a valve chamber located below the container bottom and having a discharge opening axially aligned with the valve opening, valve means comprising the combination of a plurality of generally cylindrical, axially apertured valve elements of a size to be reciprocable axially within said valve and delivery openings, spindle means comprising an upwardly extending spindle adapted to slidingly receive the valve elements successively in arbitrary order, an upwardly facing shoulder at the lower end of the spindle for engaging the lowermost valve element, releasable means for locking the uppermost valve element against upward movement on the spindle, a support mounted within the container and having an aperture adapted to receive and guide the spindle adjacent its upper end, a latch mounted on the support for movement between a latching position and a releasing position, the spindle being recessed to form a downwardly facing shoulder which engages the latch in latching position thereof and thereby limits downward spindle reciprocation at a predetermined lower spindle position, movement of the latch to its releasing position releasing the spindle for downward axial withdrawal from the container, means for limiting upward spindle reciprocation at a predetermined upper spindle position, and handle means for manually reciprocating the spindle means, the peripheral surface of each valve element being recessed within a definite limited axial zone, said zone, for the lowermost valve element, being intermediate the valve opening and the delivery opening in said lower spindle position and being at least partly above the valve opening in said upper spindle position, the degree of recessing of the respective valve elements being different, whereby the volume of powdered soap or the like delivered on each valve stroke is variable by selection of the order of the valve elements on the spindle.

.1 6 4. In adispensenfon powdered soap: or the like, a containerhaving a bottom with a val-veopening therein,

structure forming a valve chamberlocated-below the con- ?tainer bottomv and having a discharge ;opening axially aligned with the valve opening,. rvalve=means= comprising the l'com'bi-nation' of a plurality of '-generally ,cylindrical,

' axially apertured valvexelements of a-sizelto be-recipror cable-axially within said waiver anddelivery; openings,

Lspindle means-comprising an upwardly extending spindle iadapted to slidingly-:receive the valve elements succes- 1 sively in arbitrary order,an;upwardlyvfacing shoulder: at the lower end of the spindle for-engagingathe lowermost valve'relement, releasable aneans for/locking -the uppermost valve element::against= upward movement on the spindle; means forrestricting at least the-lowermostvalve element'to apredetermined'rotationalaposition-ton the spindle; guide means for guiding.the upperoendofmthe spindel for axial *recipro'cation relativeito the container, stop meansfo'rlimiting' thatreciprocation atpredetermined'upper' and lower spindle positions, a handle mounted on the lower end of the spindle'and; radially offset from the' axis thereof, the peripheralsurface of each-valve-ele- "mentbeing recessed within a-definitetlimitediisector ,and

zone such that, for the lowermost valveelemenL-saidsector excludes the sector directly above the handle, and said zone is intermediate the valve opening and the delivery opening in said lower spindle position and is at least partly above the valve opening in said upper spindle position, the degree of recessing of the respective valve elements being different, whereby the volume of powdered soap or the like delivered on each valve stroke is variable by selection of the order of the valve elements on the spindle.

S. In a dispenser for powdered soap and the like, a container having a bottom with a valve opening therein, structure forming a valve chamber located below the container bottom and having a discharge opening axially aligned with the valve opening, valve means comprising the combination of a plurality of generally cylindrical, axially apertured valve elements of a size to be reciprocable axially within said valve and delivery openings,

spindle means comprising an upwardly extending spindle adapted to slidingly receive the valve elements successively in arbitrary order, an upwardly facing shoulder at the lower end of the spindle for engaging the lowermost valve element, defining formations having a first form on said shoulder and on the upper axial faces of the respective valve elements, defining formations having a second form complementary to the first form on the lower axial faces of the respective valve elements, said formations of first and second form being adapted to interlock and to prevent assembly of an inverted valve element and to prevent rotation of an assembled valve element, support means mounted within the container and having an aperture adapted to receive and guide the spindle, the support means including a latch movable between a latching position and a releasing position, the spindle being recessed to form spacedly opposed axially facing shoulders which engagethe support means and thereby limit reciprocation of the spindle at predetermined upper and lower spindle positions, movement of the latch to its releasing position releasing the spindle for downward axial withdrawal from the container, a handle mounted on the lower end of the spindle and radially offset from the axis thereof, the peripheral surface of each valve element being recessed within a definite limited sector and zone such that, for the lowermost valve element, said sector excludes the sector directly above the handle, and said zone is intermediate the valve opening and the delivery opening in said lower spindle position and is at least partly above the valve opening in said upper spindle position, the de gree of recessing of the respective valve elements being different, whereby the volume of powdered soap or the like delivered on each valve stroke is variable by selec tion of the order of the valve elements on the spindle.

6. In a cabineted powder dispenser which comprises structure forming a cabinet having an open front and a generally rectangular floor, a fixed sill extending across the extreme lower portion of the front of the cabinet, a door hinged at one side and adapted to close the upper portion of the front of the cabinet, the lower edge of the door and the upper edge of the sill being vertically spaced from each other and forming an access opening, means for releasably locking the door closed, a dispenser for solid granular material mounted behind the door with a handle that is accessible through the access opening, said handle being manually operable to deliver said material downwardly into the operating hand, and structure forming a tray insertible within the lower portion of the cabinet behind the sill; the improvement that comprises the combination of a normally horizontal tray cover comprising horizontally spaced vertical slats that extend parallel to the sill and conceal the tray bottom from the operator while freely permitting spilled material to fall into the tray, and means pivotally mounting the tray cover on the tray on a pivot axis parallel to the edge of the sill and adjacent the rear edge of the tray, the tray cover being swingable about the pivot axis to permit inspection of the tray bottom.

7. The improvement defined in claim 6, and wherein the forward edge of the tray cover comprises a rail which overlies both the sill and the forward edge of the tray.

8. In a dispenser for powdered soap or the like, a container having a bottom with a valve opening therein, valve means comprising the combination of a plurality of generally cylindrical valve elements of a size to be reciprocable axially within said valve opening, a valve carrier mounted for axial reciprocation, guide means on the carrier adapted to receive the valve elements successively in arbitrary order, releasable means for locking the valve elements on the carrier, the peripheral surface of each valve element being recessed, the degree of recessing of the respective Valve elements being difierent, whereby the volume of powdered soap or the like delivered on each valve stroke is variable by selection of the order of the valve elements on the carrier.

Sloier July 23, 1957 Sessions Sept. 29, 1959 

